Los Angeles, California – In a chilling incident, Dr. Hamid Mirshojae, a 61-year-old addiction treatment specialist, was murdered outside his clinic in Woodland Hills last Wednesday evening. Dr. Mirshojae, known for his extensive work in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, was attacked in what authorities suspect was a premeditated ambush shortly after his practice closed for the day.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the assailant had been seen lingering in the parking lot prior to the shooting. The doctor was approached as he walked to his car and was shot at close range. Despite the prompt response from emergency services, Dr. Mirshojae succumbed to his injuries. The shooter fled on foot, leaving behind few clues and sparking a manhunt. No arrests have been made, and the motive behind the murder remains unclear.
Dr. Mirshojae had been a fixture in the medical community for over two decades, primarily in primary and emergency care, though he had also been board-eligible in addiction medicine for more than ten years. His clinic served a diverse clientele, including celebrities and athletes, reflecting his high reputation in the healthcare community.
This tragic incident marks the second violent attack on Dr. Mirshojae this year. Several months before his death, he survived an assault by three individuals wielding baseball bats outside the same clinic. The connection between this attack and his murder has not been established, adding further intrigue and concern among his colleagues and patients.
Patients of Dr. Mirshojae expressed shock and lamented the loss of a compassionate caregiver. Khedhar Quintero, a former patient, remembered the doctor as a practitioner who cared deeply about the well-being and futures of those he treated, suggesting that perhaps not everyone appreciated the doctor’s life-changing work. Another long-term patient, Gloria Sera, shared personal anecdotes of Dr. Mirshojae’s care over her 15 years as his patient, revealing his recent personal joys, including his marriage.
At the time of his murder, Dr. Mirshojae’s family was abroad, with his wife and infant daughter visiting relatives in Turkey. He is also survived by three adult children from a previous marriage. Following the incident, the clinic has significantly heightened its security measures, including hiring full-time security personnel.
Aside from his medical practice, Dr. Mirshojae’s life was marked by prolonged legal disputes with his ex-wife, Ahang Kelk, spanning nearly two decades. Their conflicts extended beyond their divorce, involving multiple legal claims and counterclaims concerning financial settlements and personal conduct, which repeatedly brought them into court. Their legal entanglements even included accusations of fraud and failure to comply with financial agreements.
Their marital disputes often became public and contentious, drawing remarks from judges about the disproportionate financial and emotional costs. The court battles showed no signs of abating, with proceedings scheduled to continue the week of his death.
Despite their stormy past, Kelk appeared devastated by the news of Dr. Mirshojae’s death, complicating the narrative of their past altercations.
The investigation into Dr. Mirshojae’s murder is ongoing, with law enforcement officials urging anyone with information to come forward to help bring closure to this case and justice for a doctor who spent his life serving others. The community, meanwhile, reels from the loss of a physician who dedicated his career to battling addiction and aiding recovery, leaving behind a legacy of service and a multitude of grieving patients and family members.